Every summer Rooftop Films presents a colorful mix of indie movies, documentaries and short films in New York City. The festival is unique due to its outdoor venues like rooftops, parks, piers, or other scenic locations in NYC and beyond. It's also known due to its eclectic film selection. The annual Summer Series usually features anywhere from 30 to 60 screenings each year.
This Is What We Mean by Short Films: Opening Night (May 17, 2024)
This year's Rooftop Films Summer Series will kick off at the Green-Wood cemetery, an eerie but magical site that draws thousands of people to its grounds. With a 28-year history of hosting film screenings, Rooftop Films prepares an exceptional selection of last year's independent short films from international and domestic filmmakers.
Besides the film viewing, you'll have a chance to groove to the live music of top-notch artists and dance at a free afterparty. Some days also include dialogue sessions with filmmakers and experts from the field. The gates to the venue open at 7:45 pm. Some screenings may be free, while others require tickets.
Rooftop Filmmakers Fund
As a nonprofit organization, Rooftop Films helps emerging filmmakers to produce new films, rents equipment and supports film screenings citywide at low-cost to artists and community groups. This is done through its Filmmakers Fund grant. The people behind the project also promote innovative work of new filmmakers, outsider artists, and underrepresented directors.
History of Rooftop Films
Filmmaker Mark Elijah Rosenberg founded the Rooftop Festival in July 1997, when he started showing movies on his rooftop in East Village with a 16 mm projector. Since then, the festival has grown from just a few screenings per season to a large-scale event, featuring dozens of indie works and art pieces. Rooftop Films has become a premier venue for underappreciated cinema showings, focusing mainly on independent short and feature films.
